The future is bright for solar PV: What you need to know about PV for 2018

Over recent years solar PV has become increasingly popular for homeowners, businesses, and energy generators due to falling PV costs and greater understanding of the technology. Even in the UK climate, solar energy is a great way to generate electricity. With the support from government schemes in both the UK and Germany, PV installations have soared which has aided the falling costs.

Financially how does PV stack up?

The surge in popularity of solar PV has led to many advancements and lower production costs for the system parts of around 40%. When this is coupled with the UK Feed-in-Tariff (FiT) scheme where homeowners receive an income for every kWh of electricity generated as well as an export fee. This has resulted in reduced payback period which can be as little as 12 years, for example, a system could cost £5,000, and could generate £250 FiT income, and £135 bill savings per year. These energy savings could be higher if you use more of the electricity that you generate during the day.

Looking towards 2018 and beyond

The cost of solar PV is likely to continue decline due to increased competition and further production efficiencies.

The government cut financial support for solar PV through the FiT by 65% in January 2016 as a result of the dramatic cost reduction in solar PV. They have also put mechanisms in place to enable further degression of the FiT if PV costs continue to fall. The government maintains its backing for renewable energy, as seen in the Clean Growth Strategy, although they have expressed that they want PV to start paying for itself in the commercial sector and have proposed no subsidies. This may also impact on the future of the FiT.

However, if you decide to invest in solar PV then the FiT at the time of installation of the system will be guaranteed for 20 years and linked to inflation. Also, any cuts to the FiT will be given advanced notice so there is time to install before the reduction or re-evaluate whether to proceed.

Much of Europe and the rest of the world are seeing renewable energy as the way forward to reduce carbon emissions and the cost of electricity production in the future. As a result, there is a lot of investment, including from the UK government, into advancements in renewable energy technology to reduce their costs and increase their efficiency; of which the PV industry will benefit and we should see further increased panel efficiency.

Advancements are also being made in energy storage with investment being made to speed up its development. Energy storage advancements will not only help the national grid manage fluctuations in energy generation and demand but it will also benefit homeowners with solar PV as they will be able to store the electricity they generate instead of exporting it to the grid, which will increase the savings on energy bills.

Considerations for purchasing PV

Firstly, if you want to take advantage of the FiT then you may need to make certain energy efficiency improvements to your property before installing your system, as you are required to have an EPC rating of D or above. However, it makes sense to invest in home energy efficiency measures as it will reduce your energy bills. Take a look at our guidance on loft and wall insulation to see what is suitable for your property if you haven’t already had them installed.

The location of your solar PV panels is essential in ensuring maximum gain, panels should ideally be south-facing but there are many other orientations that are viable for good levels of energy generation. They shouldn’t be located where they would be shaded or obstructed from getting sufficient UV exposure.
When selecting a solar PV system it is worth doing some research to find what panels offer the best efficiency and lifespan to ensure you get the maximum energy generation for your investment.

Once installed PV systems need little maintenance but it is worth factoring in the additional cost of a replacement inverter as they often need replacing during the lifespan of the system as warranties are for 10-15 years. It is also worth regularly checking the output to catch any reductions that indicate could issue with the system.

How to find an installer

When you are looking for an installer you need to find one that is MCS accredited for solar PV installations. It is also worth investigating which panels they install, their system costs, and reviews on their workmanship. To help owners to find the right installer we have a list of accredited and reputable installers.

So, if you haven’t got PV panels adorning your roof, is it time to seriously consider investing in them? Solar PV is no longer just an environmentalist’s household accessory but something that savvy homeowners across the country are adopting to reduce energy bills and generate an income.